Cursed Heir System: Revenge Against the Gods

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]

"Why'd you release everyone?" Moriko asked, while running.

Alan stopped abruptly, almost collapsing from burnout. Sweat trickled down his forehead. His stomach churned as he recalled the creature's teeth tearing through him.

His body, especially his hands shaking with fear of death. He was barely supported by his swaying legs.

"Alan?" Moriko slid to a stop and ran back, grabbing his arm to steady him.

"What's wrong? You're shaking badly!"

He shook his head struggling to speak. "Nothing," he rasped.

"Let's go."

Moriko nodded and frowned as they ran through the shadowy mine tunnels. The same three guards showed up again.

They killed three of them as before, but more quickly because he knows their attack patterns.

Moriko shifted back, panting, her fur fading.

"I'm starving." She muttered.

A low growl echoed, mixed with screams and running feet. The freed slaves were causing chaos, guards yelling in the distance.

"Run!" Alan grabbed Moriko's wrist and sprinted, dodging rocks and slick patches. Alan's mind raced, remembering the last death by taking one of the routes.

Not the left path, that's a dead end.

He turned right, pulling Moriko into a narrow tunnel, the walls closing in.

They entered into a wide chamber and his heart sank seeing only walls but not exit.

"Fuck!" he yelled, punching the wall in anger, thinking of dying again getting his nerves.

"What do we do?" Moriko asked, her voice shaky.

A deep growl rumbled, chilling the air. The creature's grey limb slid into the torchlight, jaws opening wide.

"Moriko, move!" Alan shouted, pushing her behind him.

The monster jumped, teeth crushing, tore him apart and blood splattered. His vision went black again.

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]

---

"Why'd you release everyone?" Moriko asked.

Alan stumbled, the checkpoint pulling him back. His shoulder burned like the creature's teeth were still there. He bent over, placing his hand on his knees, he's basically shaking with exhaustion of dying. His breaths came short, his heart pounding loudly that he could only hear that.

"Alan!" Moriko grabbed him. "What's happening?"

He couldn't speak, he couldn't tell her, the thought of dying again and again crushing him.

How many times? Four? Five?

Each painful death is still clear in his head. He stood up, wiping sweat off his face. "Let's go," he muttered weakly.

They ran, killing the three guards faster this time. The growls and screams came again, the slaves' chaos still raging. Alan picked a new tunnel, avoiding the last dead ends, desperate to find a way out.

The path twisted, then stopped at another dead end. "Fuckkk!" Alan growled, kicking a stone. It rolled uselessly.

Moriko's ears twitched as she caught the sound, fur bristling. "Alan, it's coming!"

As its twisted form lunged from the darkness, the creature's screech filled the air. Alan swung his sword, but it was too fast. His leg was clamped by its jaws, pulling him downward. It tore him apart with burning pain.

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]

The loops blurred him. The fourth ended with the creature's teeth at his throat.

The fifth had guards shooting an arrow through his chest, the pain lingering even now.

—-

[Skill: Return by Death activated.]

"Why'd you release everyone?" Moriko asked.

Alan shuddered and froze. His hands gripped his head as he crouched. Hearing those words again and again and again, it felt like a curse. His heart was beating too hard, and his breaths were labored.

He had died numerous times, felt blades and teeth, and each death was still on his mind with the sensation, feeling even one of the deaths sending chills in his nerves.

"Alan!" Moriko placed her hand on his shoulders. "Speak to me! What is the problem?"

He was unable to look her in the eyes. Tears clouded his vision, and his hands trembled. "This time, we're getting out. I swear it."

Despite her tightening grip on Alan's arm and furrowed brow, Moriko nodded. The same three guards appeared from a side passage, and they killed them like before.

Once more, a deep, rumbling growl echoed through the tunnels.

Alan grabbed Moriko's wrist, pulling her forward. They sprinted, his mind mapping every failed route like dead ends, collapsing shafts, chambers where the monster had torn him apart.

Not that way. Not again.

He chose a new path, a wide corridor sloping gently upward. The air felt lighter, cleaner, the walls smoother, less spikes and less rocks laying around.

"It's the right one," Alan said in hope.

"It has to be."

But a chill ran up his spine. The air grew cold, heavy, like a shadow brushing his neck. The creature was close. Moriko's ears twitched, her tail lashing.

"Alan, it's following us. And… I hear people ahead. Guards, maybe."

Alan's lips turned into a smirk. "That means we're near the exit."

He could still remember the first time being dragged in chains into the mines three years ago.

A huge, tightly sealed stone gate that could only be opened by a control ring. He looked at the ring on his finger, which he had taken from Dekel. He took it off and put it in his palm as he tossed the sword away.

This is our shot. He clearly made a plan to manipulate the guards at the gate.

They continued to run, the tunnel getting wider until the darkness was replaced by a dim glow. The entrance was visible as the corridor opened onto a large stone platform. A large stone gate closed, it's clearly twenty feet tall and adorned with runes, it stood like a promise of freedom.

The scent of earth and pine was carried by a cool breeze. Alan's heart jumped in excitement.

However, the gate was not unsupervised.

On the platform were twenty guards, some leaning against the walls and others standing alert.

A burly captain spotted them, his hand reached to his blade. "Halt! "Who are you?" he yelled.

"Slaves? How did you get here?

With their hands up, Alan and Moriko slowed down, panting, trying to take the breath.

Alan's voice trembled just enough to sound genuine as he forced a terrified expression. "Please, help us! The mines, they're under attack!"

Moriko caught on his act and followed his lead, her voice quivering. "A monster...is down there! Everyone is dying, including….. Sir Dekel, the slaves, and the guards! You must take action!"

The guards exchanged nervous glances thinking whether they should believe it or not. But the captain scowled. "You two have no collars! You expect us to believe this? Where's your proof?"

Alan raised his head to look directly into the captain's eyes. "Your proof will arrive shortly."

KRRRRHHHH

A deep, guttural, bone-chilling growl that came from the tunnel and shook everyone there.

The guards' faces turned white as they froze. "What in the hells was that?" stumbled a younger one.

"Come on!" The captain barked, his voice slightly breaking. "soldiers out! Get moving!

Guards hurriedly took their weapons and ran towards the tunnel. The captain stopped and gave Alan and Moriko a stern look. "Stay here. If you run, we'll hunt you down."

With his hands still up, Alan stated in a serious tone, "We're not going anywhere."

Moriko gave a nod. "All we want is to stay alive."

With a grunt, the captain led his men into the tunnel, leaving one guard behind, a thin man with a shaky grip on his sword. He stood between them and the gate, he said, "Don't try anything."

Leaning closer, Moriko whispered. "This one's easy to get."

Alan whispered, keeping his gaze on the guard, "lucky for us."

"Ahhhhhhh, Help Me."

A raw and wet scream came through the tunnel. The guard whirled looking at the tunnel. "What was—"

In a quick second, Alan took the knife out of his pocket and stabbed the guard in the throat. Moriko followed with a swift swipe of his claws, tearing through his chest as blood sprayed. He collapsed, dead before he hit the ground.

"Let's go."

Another scream echoed, closer this time, and Moriko looked back. "That thing is not far behind."

They sprinted to the gate as Alan lifted the control ring and shouted. "Open."

A low hum shook the stone, and the massive gates groaned, slowly parting revealing a silver sky rolling hills and dense forests as the moonlight streamed in. Freedom is terribly close.

Alan turned to look at the tunnel. Some guards were dragging injured comrades as they tried to get out, screaming and covered in blood.

"Close," he said in a chilly tone.

The gates started closing. A guard reached out, his face bloody and his armor ripped, his eyes desperate. "No! Please wait!

Moriko waved mockingly with a grin. "Good luck inside!"

"Say hi to Dekel for us," Alan added with his own grin..

A long, clawed limb emerged from the dark, grabbing the guard's waist. He screamed, clawing at the stone as the creature dragged him back.

Boom.

The commotion inside was muffled when the gates slammed shut.

Only the gentle rustle of the night breeze can be heard now.

Alan let out a sigh, his shoulders dropping. Exhausted, he fell to the ground and lay on his back. He breathed free air for the first time in years.

He looked at the warm, still-fresh blood on his hands. He ought to have felt victorious. He felt hollow instead.

He muttered, uncertain if it was a warning or a sense of relief, "We made it."

After years of darkness, Moriko fell next to him and gazed up at the stars, which were dazzling in their light. "Yes. What next?"

Alan looked out at the endless hills, freedom came at a price, blood on their hands, ghosts in their dreams, and a world that would never let them rest. "We continue to run now. Yet, we have a choice this time."